A community’s resilience to reconstruct itself following a devastating earthquake that stole 70,000 lives has been captured in a series of photos on display at the China Cultural Centre in Valletta.

...through its solidarity... Malta had shown that one finds a true friend in times of difficulty or disaster

The force eight magnitude earthquake that shook China’s southern Sichuan province four years ago left millions homeless and has gone down as the biggest one in China’s recent history.

The world watched in horror as strong aftershocks, some exceeding magnitude six, continued to hit the area months after the deadly earthquake, causing new casualties and ­damage.

But the province soon got back on its feet and started rebuilding the area, in some cases from scratch, with the help of foreign governments.

Some 20 international photographers from 11 countries have etched this inspirational community work in time with 40 pictures, which are now being exhibited also in Malta.

The exhibition, called Rebirth, has already toured the world, including Paris, Berlin, Egypt, Tokyo and Mauritius, and is now on display in Malta as a token of appreciation for the island’s solidarity.

Chinese Ambassador Cai Jinbiao, who launched the exhibition on Thursday, said the Maltese government had extended a helping hand with some €23,000 raised during a concert and the provision of 100 tents to accommodate 500 people.

He said that through its solidarity, including the evacuation of 5,000 Chinese engineers and workers from Libya during the Arab Spring, Malta had shown that one finds a true friend in times of difficulty or disaster.

The exhibition will remain open until June 4 . Entrance is free between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and 5.30 p.m.